Paris 2024's controversial Olympic ceremony sparked culture wars with its modern reinterpretation, while Milan-Cortina embraced tradition and unity, expert say.

Italy welcomes the world with pageantry to open the Games—here is everything you need to know about the performers, start time, and how to watch on NBC and Peacock.

Milan's San Siro Stadium played the role of primary host. But, in the spirit of these unusually widespread Games, simultaneous celebrations were also held in the clusters of Livigno, Predazzo and Cortina d'Ampezzo, which — for the first time ever — lit a second Olympic cauldron.

The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics kicked off on Friday with an unprecedentedly widespread opening ceremony that was certainly more somber that the Paris 2024 opener but still delivered a classy spectacle and projected an overall elegance that reflects its Italian spirit.

NBC was wise to bring in Shaun White for the Parade of Nations, but capturing the scale of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics will be a challenge.